....:~:$%§ §%$:~:....
...:~:$%§# #§%$:~:...
..:~:$%§## ##§%$:~:..
.:~:$%§### ###§%$:~:.
..:~:$%§## ##§%$:~:..
...:~:$%§# . . . #§%$:~:...
....:~:$%§ . . . . . . §%$:~:....
.....:~:$% : : : : : : : : %$:~:.....
......:~:$ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ $:~:......
.......:~: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :~:.......
........:~ ~:........
.........: JUST OFF THE COAST TO THE BALTIC SEA :.........
........:~ THERE'S A FRESHWATER POND, SECLUDED ~:........
.......:~: AMONG ASHEN AND JUNIPER. A CLEFT IN THE :~:.......
......:~:$ LIMESTONE BEDROCK, SHARP-CUT FROM THE $:~:......
.....:~:$% SURROUNDING PLAINS, A NINETY DEGREE %$:~:.....
....:~:$%§ DROP DOWN, DOWN, TO THE MIDNIGHT-BLACK §%$:~:....
...:~:$%§# WATER. #§%$:~:...
..:~:$%§## ##§%$:~:..
.:~:$%§### ~~~~$$$$$$$$~~~~ ###§%$:~:.
..:~:$%§## ~~$$ $$~~ ##§%$:~:..
...:~:$%§# ~~~~~$$ FAIRIES LIVE HERE. $$~~~~~ #§%$:~:...
....:~:$%§ ~~$$ $$~~ §%$:~:....
.....:~:$% ~~~~$$$$$$$$~~~~ %$:~:.....
......:~:$ $:~:......
.......:~: THEY SPEAK TO THE SLOANE, CARESS IT, :~:.......
........:~ URGE IT TO GROW THICKER, TANGLED, WITH ~:........
.........: LONGER AND SHARPER THORNS. THEY TELL IT :.........
........:~ TO STAY JUST BELOW THE GRASS, SO THAT ~:........
.......:~: THE ANIMALS WHAT COME TO DRINK THE :~:.......
......:~:$ WATER CANNOT SEE IT BEFORE IT DRAWS $:~:......
.....:~:$% THEIR BLOOD. CLOSER TO THE POND, THE %$:~:.....
....:~:$%§ SLOANE CAN GROW TALLER, BEING ABLE TO §%$:~:....
...:~:$%§# HIDE ALSO IN THE JUNIPER. #§%$:~:...
..:~:$%§## ##§%$:~:..
.:~:$%§### THE FAIRIES WILL BECKON THE ANIMALS TO ###§%$:~:.
..:~:$%§## PUSH FORWARD, TELL THEM THAT THEY'RE ##§%$:~:..
...:~:$%§# ALMOST AT THE WATER, THAT THEY MAY #§%$:~:...
....:~:$%§ DRINK SOON. AND THEY WILL TUG ON THE §%$:~:....
.....:~:$% SLOANE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE THORNS CUT %$:~:.....
......:~:$ DEEP. WHEN THEY FINALLY FIND THE PATH $:~:......
.......:~: DOWN BETWEEN THE ROCKS, AWAY FROM THE :~:.......
........:~ BUSHWORK AND INTO THE CLEFT, THEY ARE ~:........
.........: BLEEDING FROM A THOUSAND WOUNDS. AS :.........
........:~ THEY DRINK FROM THE DARK WATER, IT IS ~:........
.......:~: IN TURN DRINKING THE ANIMALS BLOOD. :~:.......
......:~:$ $:~:......
.....:~:$% THE CIRCLE IS COMPLETE, THE CONTRACT %$:~:.....
....:~:$%§ CARRIED OUT; THE ANIMAL IS ABANDONED TO §%$:~:....
...:~:$%§# FIND ITS OWN WAY BACK. THE BUSHES ROOTS #§%$:~:...
..:~:$%§## DRINK THE NUTRUTIOUS WATER. THE FAIRIES ##§%$:~:..
.:~:$%§### DANCE IN THE SUNBEAMS. ###§%$:~:.
..:~:$%§## ##§%$:~:..
...:~:$%§# :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: #§%$:~:...
....:~:$%§ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ §%$:~:....
.....:~:$% : : : : : : : : %$:~:.....
......:~:$ . . . . . . $:~:......
.......:~: . . . :~:.......
........:~ ~:........
.........: :.........
........:~ ~:........
.......:~: :~:.......
......:~:$ $:~:......